THE WAITARA SHOOTINC AFFAIR.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 143, 16 December 1908, Page 2

THE WAITARA SHOOTINC AFFAIR.

[PKEBB ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. This morning Dr Goode, the perpetrator of the Waitara shooting assault, A\as more calm and self-possess-ed, -prior to being formally told of the charge. He expressed ignorance of the causes leading to his - being locked ' up. When charged in the | cell lie made no reply beyond expr-ess- , ing a wish to see his solicitor. Later in the morning he was brought before Mr H. S. JFitzherbert, S.M.j and formally charged with having attempted to murder Mrs Klen^ Her. Accused was attended in the dock by ,two constables. After the charge had been read out, the court adjourned to the hospital, where Mrs Klenner's depositions were taken. Accused was then remanded until Wednesday, 23rd inst. Mrs Klenner's depositions, taken at the ''hospital, were as follows: "I am i the wife of Alois Klenner, butcher, of Waitara, and live next door to Dr Goode, who is accused of attempting to murder me. That is he standing there. Accused came to my liouse, I think, about half-past^three yesterday, afternoon. I thought I heard a noise oif the doorstep ; I opened the door and found it was Dr Goode. He walked into the sitting Toom, and said, 'I want to speak -to yoxi.' He was the worse-' of liquor.' He said bad things about me, and said I was had with other men, which is untrue, as I was always true to my husband. He wanted me to sit on his knee and said, 'You be mine, or I'll shoot yoii.' I refused and he fired tAvo shots at me at short range, and I fell over. He tried to fire a third shot, but the revolver would not go off. I heard him say, 'Are you dead,' but I never answered as I was afraid. I heard him say 'I am going to, get some more whisky, and then finish myself.' He then slammed the door and went j away. I did not see him since till now.". " Cross-examined" by Mr Wilkes, she 'said: -' -Accused was drunk. I could not say how long he was in the room. He was very excited*and his language was very unusual. He was very angry because I refused his request. He had been drinking for days, and I could not say if he could walk straight. He tried to shoot himself, but the revolyer would not go off. • He was always my medical adviser since he had been in Waitara, and I am quite friendly with. him. I think he must have been out of his mind, or he would not have done what lie did. Accused was mad with whisky, I judged, from his appearance." . . Mrs Klenner came, from Sydney about a dozen years ago to marry Mr Klenner in Wellington, and they hare since resided in Waitara, where Mrs Klenner is well liked. i She has five children. ; Mrs Klenner is: still in a very bad condition. She rallied a_ little from the shock, but the outlook is decidedly unfavorable. The bullets have probably lodged near the spinal vertebrae, affecting the spinal nerves. The left arm is paralysed. The brain, however, is uninjured, and her mental condition is so far unimpaired. The chief dangers come from inflammation and interference with respira- • tion on account of the windpipe being pierced, and there is also great trouble. in feeding the patient owing to the injury to the gullet. The latest report to-night is that the patient is weaker.